Spice and Wolf: Controversy Sells?

Yesterday, Yen Press announced that they will be releasing a special dust jacket featuring the delicious original artwork by Ayakura Juu. Previously, Yen Press had come under fire by some hardcore fans about the changing of the cover which some described as ‘distasteful’. The change of covers was for marketability. Reasoning that with this new cover they could broaden their marketing opportunities. Rather than just selling to the manga crowd they could also reach the fantasy readers as well. Which is perfectly understandable. Making money is the number one priority. But Yen Press, for all their awesomeness, have other high priorities.

This would be the happiness of the fans. They announced they would release this dust jacket to online retailers and those who ordered online would receive it. They also releases the jacket in the Yen magazine. But from what I’ve read of those who got it from there, things aren’t so positive. You can’t please everyone. Which is the case. Some people are arguing that the people who don’t buy theirs online are being pushed to the side, or bringing up the point Sankaku Complex made in that ‘customers are important to us;  But not important enough for them to change the cover back to the overwhelmingly preferred original, it seems’. (Really, I stopped visiting Sankaku Complex three months ago to preserve my faith in humanity, so I’m just going off some of the things I’ve just read in the comments of said article).

While I am currently unemployed and unable to purchase the novel online, I will be buying it as soon as possible. This is one of my top five series. Of course, silly cover or not, I’ll be buying it! I will have to suffer with the new cover but that’s okay. The story is the same. Are people forgetting that? I mean it’s just a cover. I was a little bitter at first. But I’m just a sucker for Ayakura’s art. It’s not like they edited the story crazily here or anything. Hell, Yen Press is one of the best manga publishers there is. I mean, hello, it’s not like we’re dealing with freaking Tokyopop here. Now that would be tragic. They wouldn’t think twice about offending and enraging the fanbase (we still remember Rozen Maiden, jerks).

But I would like to ask anyone who is thinking of purchasing the Spice and Wolf novel to please order it online. I spoke, sorta, with them earlier and asked whether or not we can expect the new covers or the original for the rest of the series. They responded with saying:

“We will continue to produce alternate covers for future Spice & Wolf novels. We can’t expect retail support for them otherwise. Whether or not those alternate covers are jackets with the original covers underneath or we continue to offer jackets like this will be dictated by the success of this jacket. It will give us a great opportunity to gauge the success of each version. So this your chance, Spice & Wolf fans! An actual opportunity to vote with your dollars! Not buying tells us nothing. What you buy speaks volumes!“

Totally fair logic. So you heard them! We already know this great publishing company actually cares what we think! So now it’s up to you guys to tell them! And like they said, the best way to do this is to buy the series not boycott it! You’ll just be loosing out on a really great story. So I encourage everyone, I practically want to BEG everyone to go out and buy the novel online!

As of yet, the list of retailers that have agreed to participate in shipping out the cover with the novel is unknown. When further information is known on the list of retailers, I will update this post.

Yesterdays Announcement: here
Original Announcement: here

Wind Tune – 旅人のうた

Short album review for you guys here. Obviously only picked it up for the cover since I know NOTHING of Wind Tune. I gotta stop doing that, right? Well, I was under the impression that Wind Tune was a trance group? Maybe I’m confusing them with someone else…

(I actually didn’t know this album was very recent. Neat)

Today we’ll be using the demos posted on the site for your listening pleasure. Just giving you a heads up in case something seems off. Again, please tell me if something doesn’t work.

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Where I’ve Been, What I’ve Got

I’ve actually been back for a day now but for those who don’t follow me on Twitter know, I was off on vacation to Vancouver. While I know it may be egotistical to both come out of hiding to make a post about herself and a post on showing off things she got (at that) but I’m doing it anyways. Because I’m just so thrilled with my haul.

This is also probably a good chance to point out that the trickling out of posts is bound to continue. Even if I just ever so lazily pop in for an Exit Trance review (which comes out when, exactly?) that might be the best you get. Although I would really love to do a quick review of Maid War Chronicle and following this will be a very, very special shout out.

This post will be image heavy. You’ve been warned sorta.

View Related Notes >>

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Spice and Wolf II OP – Mitsu no Yoake

So I had planned to lay in bed until five thirty-ish until I somehow got this song in my head. Even though my Shuffle was on the desk beside me, it forced me to get out of bed just to listen to this song. No, the full isn’t out yet. Here’s hoping it doesn’t get the Erinyes treatment and sounds completely different. Tabi no Tochuu was especially great because it sounded like we expected.

At first, I didn’t like this song nowhere near as much as Natsumi Kiyoura’s Tabi no Tochuu, the original opening to Spice and Wolf. I might have been disappointed that Kiyoura wasn’t doing the opening again. It was the series you could associate  her with. As I caught up on Spice and Wolf II, after a couple weeks of no internet, the opening began to change before me. In constrast with Horo’s depressing breakdown? I hate to say it but Mitsu no Yoake holds much more emotion than Tabi no Tochuu. It reflects the new season perfectly. So far, while the economic action has been in swing for the last episode, there has been more attention on developing the characters. As you can guess, Horo and Lawrence’s relationship. Which the song and video reflects. From them dancing, in the festival or in their room to the end where they simply grab hands. Ahhh, sorry rambling.

The single for Mitsu no Yoake by Akino Arai comes out August 5th. If that is incorrect, please correct me. Unfortunately, I’ll probably be back at home and therefore away from interweb. If I am around I will post the song faster than you can say Horo.

Now if you excuse me, I’m going to see when the next episode comes out.

Vagrancy – Istoria ~ Musa~

This album was loooong released ago.  However, I just downloaded it and fell in love. I love vocal, vocal is my favorite genre. So, let this be a warmup to C75, some music reviews to take up space!

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Spice and Wolf Licensed

Old news, old news. I know, I know. But I’ve been on vacation, see? My next post is old news too but I’d be damned if I didn’t keep up with what I said and continued to boycott a crappy Sunrise series when I said I would stop under one condition. DAMNED, I tell you!

Anyway, Spice and Wolf and Wagaya no Oinarisama are both licensed by Kadokawa USA. However, no actual distributer has been named yet. So We’ll have to wait around for that soon. I’m down with those two. I never got around to watch WnO though.

The Best Lolituma Ever

Fang-tan is not a furry freak

Or am I? Seriously. I’m begining to wonder (AKA, you should know that Fang-tan doesn’t blog anything)

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Fighting Divas, Huge Wars, Little Sisters and Big Daddies

I’m long back from my trip but I haven’t had internet for awhile and truthfully, I’m quite lazy. I’ve decided that because I’m so far behind on S&W, I’ll just chill until the last episode and then review it or something. I dunno. I’ve yet to decide. But there has been a severe lack of anime for me for awhile. What’s replaced it? 360 games.

(but still no Eternal Sonata…yet)

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Spice and Wolf ep.8 (7?)

Who the hell makes an episode a DVD exclusive? All OVA jokes aside…

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